CNAPs Beware: New Tapeworm Found in Virginia
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dgifvet, rr <dgifvet@dgif.virginia.gov> (sent by sarah.schappaugh@dgif.virginia.gov)
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1:33 PM (3 hours ago)
to bcc: me

Dear Commercial Nuisance Animal Permittees,

We are reaching out to all nuisance wildlife control operators to notify everyone that a tapeworm new to Virginia was recently diagnosed in a dog in Clarke County. This tapeworm is capable of infecting humans and is presumed to have been transmitted from a wild fox or coyote. Since this tapeworm has never been found in Virginia before, investigating the status of this parasite in wild canid populations is critical. To accomplish this objective, we are asking for your assistance in the collection of wild fox and coyote carcasses to test for this new tapeworm.

Echinococcus multilocularis is a tapeworm that is carried predominately by wild canids, such as foxes and coyotes. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the most at-risk group of humans for E. multilocularis infection includes trappers, hunters, veterinarians, and individuals that come into frequent contact with wild coyotes and foxes, such as nuisance wildlife control operators. The tapeworm is found primarily in wild canids from eastern Montana to central Ohio, as well as in Alaska and Canada (including Ontario), and it has not yet been diagnosed in wild canids from Virginia or surrounding states. However, the lack of confirmed travel history in this sick dog suggests that the tapeworm may have been transmitted from an animal in Virginia.

DGIF will be working with cooperating Commercial Nuisance Animal Permittees and other trappers this fall and winter to conduct E. multilocularis surveillance in coyotes and foxes. Sampling consists of the submission of whole, fresh or frozen, fox and coyote carcasses (skinned or not skinned) to DGIF at designated refrigerators/carcass drop-points. Counties where sampling will occur include the following: Augusta, Clarke, Culpeper, Fauquier, Frederick, Greene, Loudoun, Madison, Orange, Page, Rappahannock, Rockingham, Shenandoah, and Warren.

If you are willing to assist with E. multilocularis surveillance this fall and winter, please read over the attached sample protocol and respond back to this email for additional information. DGIF will provide all sampling supplies.

Human infection occurs when a person accidentally swallows the eggs of the tapeworm, which are shed in the feces of the infected canid. In order to prevent accidental human transmission of the parasite, it is important to treat all foxes and coyotes as potentially infected and to avoid direct contact with canid feces by following the guidelines below:

Wear disposable, rubber or plastic gloves when handling live or dead coyotes and foxes.

Do not eat, smoke, or drink when handling animal carcasses.

Wash hands with soapy water for at least 20 seconds after working with a wild canid or handling feces.

Always wear gloves, mask, and eye protection when cleaning out a cage or trap that previously housed a fox or coyote.

E. multilocularis is rarely diagnosed in humans but can cause severe illness, even death. Parasite cysts usually develop in the liver. Signs mimicking those of liver cancer and cirrhosis, such as weight loss, abdominal pain, and hepatic failure, can occur. Sometimes, cysts develop in the lungs and can produce chronic cough, chest pain, and shortness of breath. Cysts are usually slow growing and signs of illness may not be observed for years after initial exposure occurred.

If you would like more information on E. multilocularis, please refer to the following links:

CDC: https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/echinococcosis/gen_info/ae-faqs.html



Iowa State University College of Veterinary Medicine: http://www.cfsph.iastate.edu/Factsheets/pdfs/echinococcosis.pdf

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife: https://www.dfw.state.or.us/wildlife/health_program/docs/ParasiteFlyer.pdf

Thank you for your continued support of the Department’s mission to protect, conserve, and connect with wildlife. We will be sure to notify you if the tapeworm is confirmed in any wild canids sampled in Virginia and we strongly urge you to take proper precautions when working with foxes and coyotes this season. DGIF needs your help to determine if this tapeworm is present in Virginia’s fox and coyote populations and any assistance that you can provide will be greatly appreciated.

Sincerely,


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Megan S. Kirchgessner, DGIF Wildlife Veterinarian

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Mike Fies, DGIF Furbearer Project Leader

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Megan S. Kirchgessner, DVM, PhD
State Wildlife Veterinarian
Virginia Department of Game & Inland Fisheries
CONSERVE. CONNECT. PROTECT.
A 2206 South Main Street, Blacksburg, VA 24060
www.dgif.virginia.gov


Attachments area

TAPEWORM SURVEILLANCE SAMPLE PROTOCOL




Background: Echinococcus multilocularis is a parasitic tapeworm that can infect canids, including dogs, coyotes, and foxes. Humans may become infected after accidentally ingesting E. multilocularis eggs, which are shed in the feces of infected canids. In infected humans, the tapeworm multiplies and develops into a cyst-like structure that behaves like a tumor. The cysts are slow growing and symptoms may not appear for years. Symptoms in humans include pain, weakness, weight loss, general fatigue, and signs of liver failure. Although this tapeworm has been documented previously in the northern portion of the Midwestern United States (Montana to Ohio) and in Alaska and Canada, its confirmation in a dog in Clarke County, Virginia, represents the parasite’s southeastern-most detection. Due to the lack of travel history in this dog, it is presumed that the tapeworm was transmitted to the dog from an animal in Virginia.

Objective: The Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries is assisting the Virginia-Maryland College of Veterinary Medicine, the Virginia Department of Health, and the Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services to determine if E. multilocularis is present in wild foxes and coyotes in northwestern/northcentral Virginia.

Animals of interest: Gray and red foxes and coyotes

Supplies:
• Yellow tags
• Garbage bags
Sampling procedure:
• Wear disposable, rubber or plastic gloves when handling coyotes and foxes.
• Do not eat, smoke, or drink when handling animal carcasses.
• Wash hands with soap and water after handling animal carcasses or feces.
• Fill out the yellow tag with name of submitter, phone number of submitter, county of kill, and date of kill.
• Place the carcass in a plastic garbage bag, release trapped air, and knot the bag.
• Wrap the yellow tag around the knot.
• Place the knotted bag in a second plastic garbage bag, release trapped air, and knot the second bag.
• Bring the carcass to any of the refrigerator sites listed below (carcasses do not need to be dropped off in the same county in which they were harvested).
Augusta County
• Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries Regional Office, (540) 248-9360, 517 Lee Highway, Verona (Mon – Fri: 8:30 AM – 4:30 PM except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays)
• Wildlife Center of Virginia, (540) 942-9453, 1800 S Delphine Ave, Waynesboro (7 days per week except Thanksgiving and Christmas, 9 AM -5 PM)
Clarke County
• Enders Fire Department*, 9 South Buckmarsh St., Berryville
o Refrigerator is located behind the fire department
Culpeper County
• Brandy Station Volunteer Fire Dept*, 19601 Church Rd., Brandy Station
o Head in the direction of the main firehouse building. Refrigerator is located beside the building across the road from the main fire house.
• George Washington Carver Ag. Center*, 9432 N James Madison Hwy, Rapidan
o Take the first driveway to the left of the main building. Refrigerator is on porch of the building on the left, towards the back.
• Merrimac Sports Shop & Grocery*, 10096 James Monroe Highway, Culpeper

Fauquier County
• Virginia Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services Animal Health Lab, (540) 316-6543, 272 Academy Hill Rd, Warrenton (Mon – Fri: 8 AM – 4:30 PM except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays)

Frederick County
• Kingdom Animal Hospital, (540) 665-3030, 125 Hopewell Lane, Clearbrook (Mon – Fri: 8 AM – 6 PM, Sat: 9 AM – 2 PM except Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s holidays)
• North Mountain Volunteer Fire & Rescue Company 19*, 186 Rosenberger Lane, Winchester
o Refrigerator is located next to the garage behind the fire station
• Winchester-Frederick County Conservation Club*, 527 Siler Road, Winchester
o Refrigerator is located under the overhang of the first building on the right
Orange County
• The Market at Locust Grove*, 32301 Constitution Highway, Locust Grove

Shenandoah County
• Department of Forestry*, 265 Lakeview Dr., Woodstock
o Refrigerator is a walk-in unit in the parking lot
Warren County
• ¬Elks Lodge*, 4088 Guard Hill Rd, Front Royal
o Refrigerator is located under the pavilion on the left side of the parking lot
• South Warren Fire Department*, 3330 Stonewall Jackson Hwy, Bentonville
* DGIF Voluntary CWD Testing Collection Site, accessible 24 hours per day

By new tapeworm I thought they were referring to the newly elected democratic governor.

I caught a gray fox with a serious parasite infection. It was dead in the trap.

How much weight can I expect to lose from these tapeworms before the cysts begin to destroy my liver? I need to lose about 20 pounds.